Real Estate FAQ

What Is a Real Property Report?

The Direct Answer

A Real Property Report, often called an RPR, is a legal document prepared by an Alberta Land Surveyor that shows the exact location of all buildings, fences, and other structures on a property relative to its legal boundaries. It confirms whether those structures comply with municipal setback rules and zoning requirements, and whether anything encroaches onto a neighbouring property or a utility easement.

For Buyers

An up to date, municipally compliant RPR gives you confidence that the fence, deck, garage, or shed you're buying is actually where it's supposed to be, and that nothing on the property is encroaching on a neighbour's land or a utility right of way. Buyers typically ask for a current RPR with a compliance stamp before removing conditions, since resolving an encroachment or non-compliance issue after closing is far more difficult than catching it beforehand.

For Sellers

Sellers are typically expected to provide a current RPR as part of the sale, usually at their own cost. If anything has changed on the property since the last RPR was issued, a new deck, a fence moved, a shed added, a new RPR is often needed to reflect that accurately. Where an up to date RPR isn't available, buyers and sellers sometimes agree to title insurance instead, which is a separate conversation worth having with your realtor early in the process rather than after an offer is already in place.

Related reading:

The Critical Importance of Final Walkthroughs When Buying a Home in Edmonton, Alberta

Jason Beattie

REALTOR® | eXp Realty | BT Group

780-791-9633  |  Jason.Beattie@eXpRealty.com